I just got me a 2015 Frontier Pro-4X and I am in the market for a CAI. I have been looking at the Injen, Volant and AFE CAI. I guess my question is, will these work with the 2015 Frontier and if so, what would you all recommend? Thank you all in advance for the help.
Previous poster is correct. Stock set up is a CAI, as it draws air from the fender well and not the engine bay. Aside from added noise these aftermarket air intakes do nothing to enhance performance or mpg's. The stock intake is the same one found on the V8 Titan.
My intake only runs 2-5 degrees over ambient, and I'd be willing to say the stock one is about the same. So your warm air argument is moot. It was near -20℉ a couple of weeks ago and my IAT was -15℉. That's some heat soak, I tell you what!
A 5hp difference isn't worth the money. The stock airbox on the V6 Frontier is the very same one used on the V8 Titan. If it's good enough for a V8, it is more than good enough for a V6. You can't make the engine take in more air than it needs just by changing the intake to one with a shiny metal tube and an exposed filter, simply not possible.
Some desire enhanced 'induction sound', which I personally find pleasurable.
But, IFF there are any performance gains to be had from an aftermarket CAI...I believe it is imperative to free up your exhaust first = via stock Y-pipe removal. You then have quite a few options (cat-back) on how you might route your exhaust.
Do you have before and after dyno proof to back up your statement? Otherwise the ear and butt dyno don't count. As previously noted by a member in another thread like this one, modern engines do a very good job of squeezing out the most performance from the factory. Spending several hundred dollars to get an un-noticeable HP increase is simply not worth it.
If the OP wants performance increases that are real, it's time to look at forced air induction (supercharging).
I have had a measurable differences in increased fuel mileage with 2 separate vehicles including the frontier by replacing the stock intakes. My Outlander saw a 1city/2highway mpg boost just by replacing the intake. If want proof people about horse power gains while Mighty Car Mods isn't 100% professional they just recently released a video of a CAI intake kit on a S2000 a car advertised to have a tuned and purpose built intake and still saw a gain with the after market intake, I think it was around a full 5hp difference (Before and afters all done on a dyno).
Stock intakes are not perfect they are a compromise. The resonators do decrease efficiency somewhat, more with some vehicles than others. Materials are cheaper to keep costs down etc.
Just like things like tires, typical road tires are a compromise of comfort, mileage, grip, price, noise etc. Offroad tires increase the grip in certain situations but at the price of loosing something in the other categories.
A 5hp difference isn't worth the money. The stock airbox on the V6 Frontier is the very same one used on the V8 Titan. If it's good enough for a V8, it is more than good enough for a V6. You can't make the engine take in more air than it needs just by changing the intake to one with a shiny metal tube and an exposed filter, simply not possible.
If it's good enough for a V8 then it wasn't designed for a V6 is also true. You can change resistances in the intake, change air velocities etc by replacing the intake, in short reducing parasitic losses. The same principles that high-flow cats, underdrive pulleys etc all work on increase efficiency a bit here and there. Again you loose something installing these but there are differences.
Now if you were to believe the writing on the box of most of these kits advertising up to 30hp gains well your also going to be the kind of person who believes in the e-bay chips.
Will you notice them neccessarily? no. Can you still measure the differences? yes. Worth the money? only you can make that decision.
I agree the name brand CAI's are not worth the money. Sure they look and sound cool. Not worth $200-300 cool. The cheap ones without an enclosed box are a hot air intake. Not a good idea.
I'd recommend enlarging the inlet and a better filter.
Take this thing out:
Replace it with $10 in plumbing parts:
If you want bang for buck, a Bully Dog GT is great. WOT restriction removal and gauge monitoring is worth it alone. I got mine under $300 new.
I don't need before and after dyno results to know that my truck feels different. The moment I bought my truck last summer and slammed the throttle pedal to the floor immediately I can tell that my 2010 Pro-4x had a better pick up. Regular driving everyday tells me that the moment afterward I installed the exhaust I can feel the truck less sluggish. The K&N might not add much or any, but its way better than the stock paper filter. Once I installed the pulley, I noticed my throttle pick up was quicker as well. Everyone's truck is different, but this particular truck is mine and driven by me only on a daily basis. I know when it's running better or worse by personal experience.
Sorry, but even a professional racecar driver would not be able to feel a 5hp gain on a truck that already makes 260+ hp. Sure you might be able to feel some difference in when you are getting power, but your brain is not able to ignore your ears screaming at it that "This thing is making MOAR POWAR!!!.!,!;!$!!". Even track slips do little to prove an increase in performance from these type of mods because it is equally as likely that you simply drove the truck better on your faster runs. The ONLY method to actually measure the performance gains is to put it on a dyno before and then the exact same dyno with the exact same operator after.
I didn't say the K&N was better in performance I stated it was better than the stock paper filter. Since some people need an explanation for every response, its better in quality versus the stock paper filter and it's reusable, washable, etc..
Lastly, don't tell me what to type or how to respond.
Found this article.Did not have time to go over it but it seems it was researched well.
I use the Amsoil nanofiber but it was totally plugged after only 315 miles during the 1000.This was do to the stock cold air intake taking air from the fender.Probably won't be a problem for most people but it is for me.Blocked off the stock inlet.Still not done.Oh yeah,anybody know where I can get the metal clips that seal the stock air box lid down?I broke one. K&N Air Filter Review - Debunking the Myths (and why OEM is better)
Shortly after I purchased my truck I put a K&N FIPK on it. It made a noticeable (positive) difference in power across the entire rev range. On K&N's site it claims the model I have is good for a 10HP gain.
No air filter is going to give you 10hp. I don't care if it is made of unicorn farts and fairy piss. The simple fact that they claim theirs does is enough to keep me away even if I look past the horrible filtration that they offer.
On my Dodge they did testing with different air filters years back.It was more about filtration rather than increase in H.P.The K&N did poorly on filtration.So poorly that one of the main aftermarket suppliers for Dodge diesels refused to sell them.
My Dodge was driven mostly in Mexico where it saw very dusty conditions.I was more concerned with filtration.Besides what is 10 hp when it is already pumping out over 400.
Same with the Frontier.I am more concerned with filtration rather than cool air.
There are a lot of relative answers that aren't based on facts here lol.
Truth be told no one wants to hear that what you spent money on and get some sort of joyful feeling about when you press the go pedal was an asinine and ill-informed decision.
Even on another board where I am a member of who has a literal assload of engineers people don't say much, especially those engineers because they start throwing around math that most laypersons do not understand.
The dyno doesn't lie, but it can be made to lie. Would you proport your product as being marginally better for sound and or performance? Nope you wouldn't, why because it will not sell.
Aftermarket intakes do two things, filter less and smooth air turbulence. Now sometimes turbulence is good when entering a motor, sometimes not, it depends on the design, but for the most part you want the air metering device to measure airflow accurately. There is no denying that you want turbulent flow when it is entering the cylinder to properly mix air and fuel for combustion.
Now a word about intake charge temps. Of course in cold weather there will be less heat soak, it's cold air lol. There is no magic there! Bring that truck down to a place with 110 degree F ambient and lets see what heat soak really looks like.
Again everything is relative. If you don't wheel or live in dirty dusty places then you can get by with less filtration. If you live in a place with cold weather most of the year, then you can get by with a short ram intake. Even if you believe in the marketing and purchase a CAI then it will work well in a cold dry environment. Will it increase performance by itself? Possibly, but can you really feel the 2WHP it created at peak and the 0.64WHP everywhere else? Nope...and how many people are going to get their truck professionally tuned on the dyno for their aftermarket air filter or intake? Probably none because it will cost for professional tuner, dyno time, and software. Combine that with your aftermarket intake and you may see the advertised performance gains of those fancy intakes.
You can buy 3 filters(Fram) for the cost of one K&N.Plus you don't have to clean and oil them.You just throw it out and replace.
That is the reason Amsoil is discontinuing the nanofiber filters.Even though they are good for a 100k(blow them out and no oil),too expensive for the average guy.
Went to see if the nanofiber air filters were still available.The last time I bought them they were 3 times as much.I bought 6.Must be blowing them out since they will be discontinued. AMSOIL AMSOIL Ea Air Filters
Freer flowing might very well mean less filtration at the micron level. Keeping as much dust OUT of an engine means a very probable longer and more trouble free life of service.
The 'enhanced' HP claims by the CAI advertisements are a joke. Vehicles/engines are designed to return years of service and are fairly well tuned coming out of the factory. Not to say that one can't further fine tune them, but many times these performance mods come with a price beyond the monetary cost of entry.
I like 'some' induction noise...and am wondering if there is a happy medium in this dept? Are any CAIs convertible or adaptable as far as sound level?
The Amsoil filters showed up today.I was worried that they would be different than the ones I had bought earlier this year at more than 3 times the price.They are the same and with tax and shipping it came out to $10.70 apiece.
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